Hedgehogs are distinctive, small mammals recognized by the thousands of stiff, keratinous spines covering their backs, which serve as a primary defense mechanism. When threatened, a hedgehog can curl into a tight, spiny ball, protecting its vulnerable underside, face, and limbs. This defensive posture presents a formidable deterrent to many potential predators. Hedgehogs inhabit a variety of environments, from forests and grasslands to urban gardens, across Europe, Asia, and Africa. They are primarily nocturnal, foraging for insects, earthworms, slugs, and other invertebrates under the cover of darkness.
Key Mammalian Hunters
Badgers represent a significant threat to hedgehogs, possessing the strength and specialized claws to overcome their spiny defenses. They are capable of unrolling a hedgehog to access its unprotected belly. They also compete for similar food sources like earthworms and beetle larvae. While badgers do prey on hedgehogs, their presence alone does not solely account for hedgehog population declines, as both species have coexisted for thousands of years.
Foxes are another common mammalian predator, though their impact on adult hedgehogs is less direct than that of badgers. Adult hedgehogs are protected by their spines, but hoglets are more vulnerable due to softer spines and weaker curling abilities. Foxes are opportunistic feeders and will scavenge on roadkill hedgehogs. Direct predation on healthy adult hedgehogs is less common than scavenging or preying on vulnerable young.
Domestic dogs can also pose a threat to hedgehogs, especially younger individuals. Dogs may attack out of curiosity or prey drive, and while an adult hedgehog’s spines deter them, serious injuries can occur. In contrast, domestic cats investigate hedgehogs but usually leave them alone once they encounter the spines.
Birds of Prey
Large birds of prey, particularly owls, are capable predators of hedgehogs. The Eurasian eagle-owl is notably effective, often including hedgehogs as a significant portion of its diet. These owls hunt at night, just like hedgehogs, and their silent flight allows them to approach undetected, preventing the hedgehog from fully curling into its defensive ball. Their powerful talons can penetrate or bypass the spiny defense, often by striking from above.
Tawny owls also occasionally prey on hedgehogs. While hedgehogs form a smaller part of their overall diet compared to rodents and shrews, tawny owls are known to take smaller adult hedgehogs. Buzzards and other raptors may also opportunistically prey on hedgehogs, especially smaller or injured individuals. The vulnerability of hoglets to aerial predators is higher due to their smaller size and less developed defenses.
Other Opportunistic Threat
Other animals can opportunistically prey on hedgehogs, particularly if the hedgehog is young, sick, or compromised, including stoats, polecats, and weasels. Polecats are considered particularly effective predators, reportedly consuming the entire hedgehog, including flesh, bones, bristles, and spines. Rats, especially brown rats, can pose a threat to very young hoglets or hibernating hedgehogs, with reports of them inflicting injuries, particularly to the eyes and nose, of vulnerable individuals. Wild boar may also occasionally prey on hedgehogs when the opportunity arises, though this is not a primary food source for them. These less common predators typically take advantage of specific situations rather than actively hunting healthy, adult hedgehogs.